Printing plate for rotary rib equipped printing cylinders



Sept. 5, 1939. I G OAKES 2,172,144

P INTING F R RIB EQUIPPED PRINTING CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 31, 1938Patented Sept. 5, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATE FOR ROTARY RIBEQUIPPED PRINTING CYLINDERS I Gradie Oakes, Chicago, Ill., assignor toProcess Rubber Plate Company, Chicago, Ill., a coioray tion 'of IllinoisApplication August 31, 1938, Serial Nth-227,656

3 Claims.

The present invention relates 4generally to printing plates for use inconnection with Multigraphs and Ihre printing apparatus. MoreCparticularly the invention relates to that type of printing plate whichcomprises1 a type sheet of molded rubber andY a thin metallicsubstantially conterminous backing sheet together With a layer of cementor adhesive material between the two sheets for securing them together,and is adaptlu edto be applied to aA rotary Multigraph cylinder `havingon the o er periphery thereof a series of laterally space longitudinallyextending plate supporting and anchoring ribs with integral nlargedheads which project in opposite directions l5 in the direction of thecircumference of the cylinder and define undercutgrooves between` theribs.

One object of the invention is to provide a printing plate of this typewhich is extremely 20 simple in design and embodies novel and improvedmeans whereby it may be applied and anchored to the Multigraph cylindermore quickly and readily than previously designed plates of the samegeneral character. v

26 Another object of the invention is to provide a printing plate of thetype and character under consideration in which the anchoring meanstherefor is-inthe form of side flanges which are formed integrally with,and extend inwardly O0 from, the side margins of the thinmetal backing isheet and embody along the outer margins thereof inwardly extending beadformations for hooking or interlocking engagement with the` heads of theribs which are adjacent to the side mar- U gins of the plate when thelatter is applied to the cylinder.

VA further object of the invention is to provide a printing plate of thelast mentioned character in which the bead formations are 'continuousand n extend .throughout the entire length of the.an

choring anges and in addition are substantially semcircular incross-section so thatthe outerY portions thereof extend outwardulyaapproxi-c mately a 45 angle with respect to the anchoring 45 flanges andserve as the result of their angularity and when pressure is applied tothe side margins provide a Multigraphl type printing plate which y isgenerally an improvement in the art and may I6 be produced at a low andreasonable cost.

(ci. 10i-315) Other Aobjects of the invention andthe various advantagesand characteristics of the present f' printing plate will be apparentfrom a consideration ofV` the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel fea tures which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at theconclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specificationor disclosure and in l0 which like numerals of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

- Figure 1 is perspective view of an externally ribbed rotary Multigrapcylinder having ap. plied thereto a printing plate embodying the l5invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure -1 and illustrating in detail the manner in which the anchoringflanges with their inwardly extending bead formations v serve to holdthe plate in hooked relation with the heads of the ribs that areadjacent to the side margins of the plate; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the plate illustrating indetail the construction,

' ,design and character of the anchoring flanges at the slide lmarginsthereof. s

The printing plate which is shown in the drawing constitutes thepreferred embodiment of the invention. It comprises a type sheet 4 and30 a backing sheet 5, and is adapted to be applied' choring ribs c. Thelatter, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 extend from one end edge of thecylinder to the other land embody integral enlarged flat sided heads c1which project in opposite directions in thedirection of thecircumference of the 40 cylinder and define undercut grooves-c2 betweenthe ribs. As well understood in the art, the

. cylinder' C is` adapted to be rotated so as to bring the printingplate into successive engagement/with sheets of paper or the like'forprinting 45 purposes.

The type sheet li is formed of molded rubber and embodies .on the outerface thereof integral raised impression or print forming characters 6.The latter are adapted to be inked during rotation of the cylinder C andmake the desired impressions whenl brought into contactwith the fworln/A Preferably the type sheet is rectangular.

The backing sheet 5 .is formed of thin metal and underlies the typesheet 4. It is substantialf 5454 ly conterminous with the latter andembodies on the outer face thereof a layer 'l of cement or adhesivematerial whereby the type sheet is secured thereto. In mounting theprinting plate on the cylinder C, the backing sheet 5 together with thetype sheet is adapted to be bent into arcuate form.

In order releasably to secure the plate in place two anchor flanges 8are provided. i These flanges are formed integrally with and extendinwardly at substantially right angles from the side margins of themetallic backing sheet 5. They are adapted to t within the undercutgrooves c2 between the ribs c ofthe cylinder C as shown.in`

Figure 2, and embody along the outer parts thereof inwardly extendingbead formations 9. These formations are continuous and extend from oneend of the anchoring flanges 8 to the other. They are adapted when theplate is applied to the cylinder to underlie vand maintain hookedrelation with the heads of the adjacent ribs of the cylinder and serveto hol-d the plate in abutting relation with the underlying faceportions 0f the subjacent rib heads c1. The flanges because they areformed integrally with the side margins of the backing plate 5 arecapable of being sprung outwardly to a limited extent. The beadformations 9 are semicircular in cross-section with the result that theouter portions thereof extend outwardly at approximately a 45 angle withrespect to the inner parts of the flanges 8 and hence when `they areplaced against the top faces of the heads and pressure is applied to theside margins of the plate, they urge or direct the anchoring flangesoutwardly and cause them to enter the adjoining undercut grooves c2 insuch manner that the bead formations snap into gripping or hookedrelation with the heads of the adjacent ribs c. The inner parts of theflanges are substantially at and are adapted to fit flatly against theadjoining flatsides of the heads of the adjacent ribs when the plate isin connected relation with the cylinder (see Figure 2). As a result ofthe fact that the inner parts of the flanges abut flatly against saidadjoining side faces of the rib heads when the plate is in place theplate is effectively held or locked against movement circumferentiallyof the cylinder. When the plate is in place the inner portions of thebead formations 9 underlie the heads of the adjacent ribs c and theouter portions of lsaid formations project outwardly, that is, in spacedrelation with respect to the ribs and are in such position that they maybe readily engaged by a pry or other tool in connection with the removalof the plate from the cylinder.

'Ihe plate because ofthe anchoring flanges with the bead formationstherein is adapted to be ap- .plled to the cylinder in two differentways. In the rst place it may be applied to the cylinder by rst bendingor warping it into arcuate form and then placing it in alignment withone edge of the cylinder. After so placing or positioning the plate theends of the anchoring flanges that are adjacent to the adjoining endedge of the cylinder are inserted into the contiguous ends of theadjoining undercut grooves c2 and the plate is slid axially with respectto the cylinder until it is properly positioned with respect to thecylinder end edges. 'I'he other mode or way of applying the plate to thecylinder comprehends rst inserting one of the anchoring flanges into oneof the, undercut grooves c2 and then shifting the plate in the directionof the other anchoring flange in order to bring the bead formation ofthe one flange into hooked relation with the other flange outwardly inthe direction of the entrance of the adjoining undercut groove. Inresponse to further pressure on the plate said other flange is caused toenter the aforesaid groove and the bead formation 9 thereof snaps intohooked relation with the head of the adjacent rib.

The plate may be removed either by sliding it axially or lengthwise withrespect to the cylinder in order to disengage the anchoring flanges 8from the adjacent ribs on the outer periphery of the cylinder or byplacing a pry under the outer portionv of the bead formation of one ofthe anges and then springing outwards the one flange until it c1ears`the head of the adjacent rib of the cylinder.

The herein described printing plate may be manufactured at a low andreasonable cost because of the simple design of the anchoring anges t.Because of the bead formations on the anchoring flanges the plate may beapplied to the Multigraph cylinder C in an expeditious manner and withfacility and may also be readily emoved by way of a pry or any othersuitable ool.

Whereas the bead formations 9 have been described as extending from oneend of the anchoring flanges to the other, it is to be understood thatthey may be of interrupted or series design. It is also to be understoodthat the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth,since these may be modied within the scopel of the spirit and scope oftheinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Paten is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a printing plate adapted for usewith a rotary printing cylinder having on the outer periphery thereof aplurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending plate supportingribs with enlarged heads extending in opposite directionscircumferentially of the cylinder and defining undercut grooves betweenthe ribs, and comprising a type sheet of flexible and elastic material,a thin backing sheet of flexible resilient metal having the type sheetsecured to its outer face-and adapted together withsaid-type sheet to bebent into arcuate form and pressed into abutment with the heads of theribs, and means for releasably secu/ring the two sheets in placeconsisting of flanges formed integrally with and projecting inwardlyfrom the side marginsof the backing sheet and having the inner partsthereof substantially flat and extending at substantially right anglesto the side margins of said backing sheet and having their outer partsshaped to form bead formations, the inner portions of which extendinwardly and the outer portionsof which extend outwardly at sub-]stantially degree angles with vrespect to said to ex outwardly beyondsaid adjacent rib heads, said flangesbeing adapted after outward ilexurethereof and in response to further inward pressure on the side marginsof the two sheets to enter the adjacent grooves and then snap inwardstowards one another into a position wherein the inner portions of thebead formations underlie and are in hooked relation with the heads ofthe adjacent ribs and the outer portions of said formations projectoutwards away from said adjacent ribs.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a printing plate adapted for usewith a rotary printing cylinder having on the outer periphery thereof aplurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending plate supportingribs with enlarged flat sided heads extending in opposite directionscirthereof andvadapted together with said type sheet to be bent intoarcuate form and pressed into inwards to form continuous full lengthbead formations of substantially semicircularv cross section, the Vouterportions-of said formations ex' tending at substantially degree angleswith respect to the inner parts of the flanges and being adapted inresponse to initial inward pressure on the side margins of the twosheets to slide outwards on the adjacent rib heads and cause the angesto nex outwardly beyond said adjacent ribl heads, the flanges beingadapted after out-l ward nexure thereof and in response to furtherinward pressure on the side margins of the two sheets to enter theadjacent grooves and then snap inwards towards one another into aposition wherein the inner partsl thereof nt atly against 'thecontiguous side faces of said adjacent rib inder having on the outerperiphery thereof a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinallyextending plate supporting ribs with enlarged heads extending inopposite directions circumferentially of the cylinder and definingundercut grooves between the ribs, and comprising a type sheet of'flexible and elastic material, a thin backing sheet of readily flexiblemetal havingjthe type sheet secured to its outer face and adaptedtogether with said type sheet to be bent into'arcuate form for placementagainst the heads of the ribs, and

means for releasably securing the two sheets in A place consisting ofangesconnected to andv projecting inwardly from the side margins ofthebacking sheet and having the inner parts. thereof l n substantially atand extending at substantially vright angles to the side margins of saidbacking sheet and having their outer partsl shaped to form inwardlyextending portions and outwardly extending portions, said flangesbeing'adapted when the two sheets are placed against the ribs and theside margins of the sheets are pressed inwardly, to enter the adjacentgrooves and then snap inwards into a position wherein the inwardlyextending portions of the outer parts thereof underlie and are inhookedrelation with the heads of the adjacent ribs and the outwardlyextending portions of said outer parts extend said adjacent ribs.

outwardly with respect to l GRADIE OAKES.

